Fact of the day

At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Fritz Thiedemann - who had commanded a German cavalry unit during World War Two before being captured towards the end and interned in a Russian prison camp - created a unique piece of history. The farmer's son earned bronze medals in both individual show jumping and team dressage to become the only rider in Olympic history to win medals in two equestrian disciplines at the same Games. He went on to gold medals in team jumping at the 1956 Olympics, when the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, and Rome 1960. The Thiedemann rein is named after him.

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Aggreko appoint former G4S boss as director

February 23 - Former G4S chief operating officer, David Taylor-Smith, who quit his job after 14-years in the wake of the London 2012 security shambles, has joined power-generator supplier Aggreko.

Aggreko, the exclusive supplier of temporary energy services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a Tier Three sponsor, have appointed Taylor-Smith (pictured top) as director of the company responsible for Europe, Middle East and Africa and he will sit of the board with effect from next month..

"He brings with him a wealth of international experience and has proved his ability to build and manage very large businesses."

The 51-year-old worked for security giants G4S from 1998 and 2012 and was one of three directors, along with Mark Hamilton, head of Olympic security, and global events director Ian Horseman Sewell, who were forced to walk following G4S' failure to provide 10,400 security guards, which they announced just two weeks prior to the event, forcing the British troops to step in and make up the final numbers.

Taylor-Smith took the brunt of the blame for the fiasco which has since reported to have cost the world's biggest security firm £70 million ($107m/€81m) on the Olympic contract after reaching an agreement with London 2012.

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This year's International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Championships take place from this week, but will it be a case of history repeating itself with more success for the hosts in Winterberg or will overseas athletes, specifically Olympic champions from Great Britain, Russia and Canada, continue their outstanding form to scupper Germany's chances and claim the golds? Mike Rowbottom reports.